The day book. (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, December 09, 1915, LAST EDITION, Image 18

Image and text provided by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

-.AN UNEXPECTED ROLEBy Mary BreamMrs. Emily Hilton laughed in anembarrassed way. """Wait till Bessiecomes home from her finishingschool," she said. "Then, Mr. Raymond, you will appreciate us more."It really was embarrassing, forMrs. Hilton, at 38, was still an uncommonly prety woman. Her husband had been dead for five years.He had left her an annuity of $1,200,which was ample for the village, andone daughter, now 18 years old.George Raymond was 35. He hadsettled in the little place a year before and opened a law office, whichwas nourishing, as law offices do incountry villages where litigous richmen exist. And Mrs. Hilton was conscious against her will that she wasfalling in love with a man three orfour years her junior.He was a frequent visitor at theHilton home, but he had never metBessie. And Mrs. Hilton was determined that he should never tell herhec ared for her until he had at leastnietthe girl.In due time Bessie came home,ready for the game of life, her pretty head full of shallow nonsense. Shewas a blonde, in striking contradistinction to her mother. She wasfrivolous, joyous, and altogether insincere. But what is insincerity in the balance with youth and freshness? Mrs.Hilton found herself, to her horror, arival with her daughter for the youngman's affection. And, what bothtroubled and yet pleased her troubled her as a woman and pleased heras a mother George Raymond wasundeniably becoming infatuated withBessie.She watched the progress of thelittle affair, and, if she was unselfishenough to be glad for Bessie's sake,for George was a man of standingin the community already, she wassorry for his. Iu time he would discover what she .herself had longknown, that there was not an unselfish thought in her daughter's emptyhead. However, as things were going, she was simply being swept downthe current! and she could detect asort of filial respect in the wayGeorge spoke to her.Bessie's callers were numerous,girls and young men. It was on aparticular moonlight evening, whenBessie and a girl friend were munch-WsUKSmmUmamlCaught Her Breathing chocolates together in the littlesummer house, that Emily Hilton wasan unwilling hearer of what passed.She had not meant to listen, but,when she began to overhear she remained rooted to the spot in strongdisgust"My dearest Tess, I have not theslightest intention of marryingGeorge Raymond," said Bessie.'But everybody thinks you, are going to," protested her friend, helpingheiself from the bos.